Washing Machine Drum Liquid Balancer for Active Unbalance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in actively addressing drum unbalance, particularly in transient states, as existing balancing units are ineffective in immediately improving unbalance and may not adequately manage vibrations across both diameter and longitudinal directions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a balancing system with multiple main balancers and a sub balancer that circulates liquid along the drum's rotation direction or reverse, dynamically adjusting liquid distribution to counteract unbalance by increasing weight at the lowest point of the drum's rotation locus and exhausting liquid at the highest point, using a supplier to manage liquid flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional balancing unit with balls or liquid is used, then the unbalance control is effective in steady state, but it is difficult to immediately improve the unbalance in transient state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid circulation system with a pump to actively move liquid between different locations in the drum. The pump supplies liquid to circulation passages that extend radially outward, allowing rapid redistribution of liquid mass to counterbalance laundry unbalance. This hydraulic approach enables immediate response in transient states by actively pumping liquid to the lowest point of the drum rotation locus when unbalance is detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The pump continuously circulates liquid based on detected unbalance conditions, and the circulation passages allow liquid to move rapidly in response to changing drum conditions. The system adapts its liquid distribution in real-time during transient states, making the balance control responsive to dynamic unbalance conditions rather than relying on passive steady-state equilibrium.
2Reliability
If liquid is supplied to main balancers, then the unbalance is improved, but the liquid distribution may not adequately address both diameter and longitudinal direction unbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing system is divided into multiple main balancers positioned at different angular locations around the drum's rotation axis. Each main balancer has its own circulation passages extending radially outward. This segmentation allows different sections of the drum to be independently balanced, enabling the system to handle unbalance in both diameter and longitudinal directions by distributing liquid to appropriate balancer locations based on the detected unbalance pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation passages extend not only radially outward from the rotation axis but also in the longitudinal direction of the drum. This three-dimensional liquid distribution capability allows the system to address unbalance in multiple directions simultaneously. Liquid can be circulated to counterbalance forces acting in the diameter direction as well as forces acting in the longitudinal direction, providing comprehensive unbalance control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution actively improves drum balance during rotation, effectively reducing vibrations and noise by uniformly distributing liquid to counteract unbalance, improving both diameter and longitudinal plane stability, and addressing the limitations of conventional balancing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The sub balancer increasing load of the drum locally by flowing the liquid stored in the circulation passage to the lowest point of a drum rotation locus based on a rotation speed of the drum
Implementation Method 2
Each of the main balancers may exhaust the liquid stored therein outside the drum based on a rotation angle of the drum and the rotation speed of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet comprising a laundry introduction hole formed therein to introduce laundry, a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, the drum comprising a drum introduction hole, formed in a front surface thereof, in communication with the laundry introduction hole, at least three main balancers provided in the drum defining a space where liquid is stored, the balancers being spaced apart at preset angle intervals with respect to a rotation axis of the drum, and a sub balancer provided at the drum to provide a circulation of the liquid, the sub balancer increasing load of the drum locally by flowing the liquid stored in the circulation passage to the lowest point of a drum rotation locus based on a rotation speed of the drum.